Batcurrant Fizz

I have to give it to Marks and Spencer, even though they irritate me when they sell Christmas stuff way too early (or keep them in shops way too late), they do have a lot of nice Halloween products. Like for instance this "Batcurrant Fizz", basically a blackcurrant flavoured fizzy soft drink. I don't think how it could be more fitting for a Halloween drink. Maybe if it was pumpkin flavoured, but there are Jack O'Lanterns (as well as bats, obviously) on the label, which is orange, so that should count for something. Growing up, there was some special Halloween drink for kids I used to enjoy, a mix of orange or pineapple juice and cream soda and I think grenadine. This Batcurrant Fizz reminds me of that, not because of its taste (it is not sickeningly sweet, for one), but because it's my new special non-alcoholic cold drink.

Autumn Fruit Pie

I know Pi Day is only in a few days and autumn only in a few months, but I long for autumn when it is not autumn, so this is what I had tonight as a dessert. You gotta love Marks&Spencer, they sure make good hearty food. I generally don't go for pies as a dessert, especially not fruit pies which overall leave me indifferent, but the pastry on this one is totally out there. And, more importantly, eating a slice of Autumn Fruit Pie brought me for a moment in my favourite season.

Un nouveau dessert pour Prof Solitaire

Mon confrère blogueur Prof Solitaire a recommencé la guerre de la food porn que l'on avait entamée il y avait quelques mois, alors je me venge ce soir avec cette photo d'un mousse chocolat et cassis, achetée dans une pâtisserie locale. La différence avec ce qu'il blogue, c'est que moi je l'ai achetée et en ai mangé, de cette mousse. Juste pour retourner le fer dans la plaie... Avouez que je suis sans pitié aucune. Machiavélique et sanguinaire, c'est ma devise. Essaie de battre ça, PS.

Goddard's Pies

As I do sometimes, or as I started doing as a new sort of blogging tradition, I am plugging a restaurant/food joint or pub which I particularly enjoyed. This one I found in London, on my last trip there, or more precisely in Greenwich, of all places. It is called Goddard's and it is a pie specialist, traditional British pies, savory and sweet. It exists since the 1800s and it is the kind of place I love to go to. The food is simple, honest, hearty and surprisingly cheap, especially in London. I had a traditional mince beef pie, which reminded me of our own Quebec pork pies, except that it was beef. With traditional leek sauce on it, and traditional malt vinegar because it is the traditional way to eat it. With mash potatoes (double portion, for some reason I thought I'd needed a double portion, boy was I wrong about that). And I had a real ale to down it.

For dessert, I had an apple and blackcurrant pie, with an ocean of custard on it, as you can see on the picture right. The picture was taken with my phone, so it is not a very good one. I am usually not a big fan of apple pies, but mixing with the blackcurrant it just gave it a whole new taste, pretty much to die for. I could not finish the dessert, or the beer, which is a darn shame, especially for the dessert. Maybe I should have asked for a doggy bag. The pies are daily fresh and very filling, both main meal and dessert. It was delicious, but almost too hearty for the day. I think Goddard's is a perfect place for a cold autumn or winter day. In so many words, I loved this place.